Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment
Schemes for The Welfare of Senior Citizens
The Government of India is implementing various schemes and programmes to provide healthy, happy empowered dignified and self-reliant life to senior citizens, alongwith strong social and inter-generational bonding.
Government is aware about the need of love, care, medical, housing, etc. of the senior citizens. For this purpose, various schemes/ programmes are being implemented by the Government for welfare of senior citizens. The details of these Schemes/ Programmes are at Annexure-I.
ANNEXURE
Details of Schemes and Programmes being implemented by Government of India in Care of Senior Citizens Sector:
Department of Social Justice and Empowerment: Atal Vayo Abhyudaya Yojana :
AVYAY brings together articulation of each of the current schemes, future plans, strategies and targets and maps it with schemes/programmes, accountabilities, financials and clear outcomes. This Plan takes care of the top four needs of the senior citizens viz financial security, food, health care and human interaction /life of dignity. It also includes the facets of safety/protection and general wellbeing of the elderly beginning from awareness generation and sensitization of the society.
2. AVYAY is an umbrella scheme, effective since 1st April 2021, has following schemes under it, namely:
· Scheme of Integrated Programme for Senior Citizens : Setting up of Homes to improve the quality of life of the Senior Citizens, especially indigent senior citizens by providing basic amenities like shelter, food, medical care and entertainment opportunities and by encouraging productive and active ageing.
- State Action Plan for Senior Citizens : The Government of India perceives a major and critical role of all State Governments in partnering and implementing this Action Plan for welfare of senior citizens. Each State/UT is expected to plan and strategize taking into account their local considerations and frame their own State Action Plans for the welfare of their senior citizens.
- Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana’ : A scheme for providing physical Aids and Assisted living devices to Senior Citizens.
- Livelihood and Skilling Initiatives for Senior Citizens - Senior Able Citizens for Re-Employment in Dignity ; Action Groups Aimed at Social Reconstruction :Elderly Self Help groups
- Channelizing CSR funds for Elderly care
· Scheme for Awareness Generation and Capacity Building for welfare of Senior Citizens – Training, Awareness, Sensitization, Setting up of National Helpline for Senior Citizens.
3. Under the Scheme of Integrated Programme for Senior Citizens , grants upto 100% of project cost are given for running and maintenance the following projects:-
 Senior Citizens' Homes for 25 destitute Senior Citizens to provide food, care and shelter.
 Senior Citizens' Homes for 50 Elderly Women including those under Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana  to provide food, care and shelter.
 Continuous Care Homes and Homes for senior citizens afflicted with Alzheimer's disease/ Dementia for a minimum of 20 Senior Citizens who are seriously ill requiring continuous nursing care and respite or those who are afflicted with Alzheimer's disease/ Dementia.
 Mobile Medicare Units to provide medical care to the Senior Citizens living in rural, isolated and backward areas.
 Physiotherapy Clinics for Senior Citizens for a minimum of 50 Senior Citizens per month.
 Regional Resource and Training Centres  monitors and provides technical support, advocacy, networking, training and capacity building for effective delivery of service by the Centres for Senior Citizens, funded by the Ministry.
4. Under the Scheme, assistance is sanctioned to the following agencies subject to the terms and conditions laid down by this Ministry:-
· Priority to be given to the State Governments / UT Administrations for supporting the projects under the Scheme of IPSrC through Registered Societies/ Panchayati Raj Institutions  / Local bodies, in the vicinity of Hospitals, as far as possible;
· Non-Governmental/Voluntary Organizations;
· Institutions or Organizations set up by Government as autonomous/ subordinate bodies;
· Government Recognized Educational Institutions, Charitable Hospitals/ Nursing Homes, and recognized youth organizations such as Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan 
5. Under State Action Plan for Senior Citizens , the Government of India perceives a major and critical role of all State Governments in partnering and implementing the Action Plan for welfare of senior citizens. Appreciating the critical and significant role of States/UTs, each State/UT is expected to plan and strategize taking into account their local considerations and frame their own State Action Plans for the welfare of their senior citizens. This State Action Plan may comprise a long-term strategy for five years as well as Annual Action Plans and this Department shall release funds to the States/UTs for formulation and implementation of their State Action Plans.
6. Livelihood and Skilling Initiatives for Senior Citizens- A new scheme with following two components:-
 Senior Able Citizens for Re-Employment in Dignity - Many senior citizens have experience, time and energy which can be used by the business enterprises looking for stable employees with experience. The Human resources cells of many private enterprises seek experienced but stable persons in certain positions. The portal allows bringing these people together by virtual matching of preferences. The portal has been launched by the Vice President of India on International Day on Older Persons , 2021 i.e. on 01/10/2021.
 Action Groups Aimed at Social Reconstruction : Elderly Self Help groups - The Senior Citizens are encouraged to form Self-Help Groups , which will provide them with a platform to share the time constructively with each other. To attain financial assistance under the scheme SHGs will function as ‘Action Groups Aimed at Social Reconstruction ’. Assistance under this Scheme to any SHG will be independent of assistance under any other scheme of the Ministry and an SHG can choose to avail assistance under any one or more Scheme.
7. Promoting Silver Economy – This is also a new scheme launched with an objective to encourage the entrepreneurs for to think about the problems of the elderly and come out with innovative solutions The Government aims to achieve the objective by providing upto Rs. 1 crore as financial assistance through equity participation, through an open invitation on a portal namely Seniorcare Ageing Growth Engine .
8. Channelizing CSR funds for Elderly care- This is also a new scheme with an objective to channelize the CSR funds in an appropriate manner for elderly care projects. Under Schedule VII of Section 135 of the Companies Act, setting up old age homes, day care centres and such facilities for Senior Citizens is an approved item for CSR funding.
9. Scheme for Awareness Generation and Capacity Building for welfare of Senior Citizens- Components like the National Helpline for Senior Citizens, Research, awareness, sensitization etc. for the welfare of senior citizens, spreading awareness and sensitizing the youth and other sections of the society towards the issues related to the elderly. The National Helpline – Elderline with toll free number 14567 has been dedicated to the country by the Vice President of India on International Day on Older Persons , 2021 i.e. on 01/10/2021.
10. Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana : Scheme for providing Physical Aids and Assisted-Living Devices for Senior Citizens
The Scheme of Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana  has been formulated by Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment with an objective to provide aids and assisted living devices viz. walking sticks, elbow crutches, walkers/crutches, tripods/quadpods, hearing aids, wheelchairs, artificial dentures and spectacles, free of cost to senior citizens belonging to BPL category who suffer from age related disabilities/infirmities such as low vision, hearing impairment, loss of teeth and loco-motor disabilities. The Scheme has been revised w.e.f. F.Y. 2020-21. Under the revised Scheme, the criteria of selection of beneficiaries have been extended to include not only those senior citizens belonging to BPL category but also senior citizens with monthly income not more than Rs. 15000/- and who suffer from age related disabilities/infirmities as mentioned above.
Under the revised Scheme of RVY, the number of devices hitherto provided has been increased. At present, following are the items that have been included for distribution:
 Generic Items: Walking sticks  Elbow crutches  Walkers/Crutches,
 Tripods/Quadpods  Hearing Aids  Artificial Dentures, and  Spectacles.
 Special Items:  Wheelchairs,  Wheel Chairs with Commode,  Chair/Stool with Commode,  Silicon Foam Cushion,  Knee Brace,  Spinal Support,  Cervical Collar,  Lumbosacral Belt ,  Walker/Roalator with Brakes,  Walking Stick with Seat,
 Foot Care Kit:-  Flexi Gel Socks,  Socks Cusion Sandal,  Silicon Insole  and  Insole with Pressure Point Relief.
Schemes, Programmes, Concession and Benefits provided by other Ministries/Department in Care of Senior Citizens:
1. Ministry of Rural Development:
National Social Assistance Programme : Under National Social Assistance Program  scheme, the elderly, widows, and disabled persons belonging to Below Poverty Line  and fulfilling eligibility criteria prescribed in the NSAP guidelines, are provided financial assistance ranging from Rs.200/- to Rs.500/- p.m. and in the case of death of the breadwinner, a lumpsum assistance of Rs.20,000/- is given to the bereaved family. The schemes under NSAP for elderly and divyangs are detailed below:
- Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme : A monthly pension of Rs.200/- is given to elderly aged 60-79 years belonging to BPL category. The pension increases to Rs.500/-per month upon attaining the age of 80 years. The total beneficiaries under the scheme are 221 lakh.
- Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme : A monthly pension of Rs.300/- is given to BPL persons aged 18-79 years with severe and multiple disabilities . The pension increases to Rs.500/- per month upon attaining the age of 80 years. The total beneficiaries under the scheme are 10.58 lakh.
2. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare:
“National Programme for the Health Care of Elderly”  launched during 2010-11 is State oriented program with the basic thrust to provide comprehensive and dedicated health care facilities to the elderly persons above 60 year of age at various level of primary, secondary and tertiary health care.
I. Primary & Secondary Geriatric Care Services : The program commenced with 100 districts in the 11th plan period. In the 12th plan period 421 districts and in 2019-2020, 114 districts were additionally sanctioned to provide dedicated geriatric OPD, IPD, Physiotherapy and lab services. Presently all 713 Health districts have been sanctioned for geriatric primary & secondary care services of OPD, 10 bedded Geriatric Ward, Physiotherapy and laboratory services.
II. Tertiary level activities of NPHCE : Renamed as ‘RashtriyaVaristh Jan Swasthya Yojana’ in 2016-17. As on date, 19 Regional Geriatric Centres  in selected Medical Colleges of 18 States, are sanctioned for tertiary care service delivery under NPHCE in the form of specialized OPD’s, 30 bedded wards in RGC including earmarking beds in various specialties like urology, orthopedics, ophthalmology etc, manpower development & research activities. Presently OPD services are being provided through 18 RGCs, inpatient services in 16 RGC’s, Physiotherapy in 14 centers & laboratory services in 13 centers.
Two National Centre for Ageing  has also been developed as centre of Excellence for Geriatric Care services. 200 bedded NCA at Madras Medical College, Chennai has been developed and operational for Covid ward and another NCA at AIIMS, New Delhi is in advance state of Construction.OPD services are expected to initiate by October 2021. A 250 Bedded Geriatric Care and Rehabilitation Centre is sanctioned at PGI chandigarh.
Progress in Operationalization of the Programme activities 2020-21

|
|
S.
No
|
|
Institutions
|
|
Sanctioned
|
|
Operational
|
|
OPD
|
|
Indoor
wards
|
|
Physiotherapy services
|
|
Laboratory services
|
|
1
|
|
RGCs
|
|
19
|
|
18
|
|
16
|
|
14
|
|
13
|
|
2
|
|
District hospitals
|
|
718
|
|
584
|
|
507
|
|
445
|
|
539
|
|
3
|
|
CHCs
|
|
4869
|
|
3111
|
|
-
|
|
1131
|
|
2408
|
|
4
|
|
PHCs
|
|
18407
|
|
10180
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
5
|
|
SCs providing home based care & supportive
appliances
|
|
90719
|
|
14201
Daily Geriatric OPD services are being provided in 584 DH, 3111 CHCs and 10180 PHCs along with special OPDs in 18 RGCs. Inpatient services are being provided in 507 DH, along with 16 RGCs. Physiotherapy services are being provided in 445 DH, 1131 CHCs along with 14 RGCs. Laboratory services are being provided in 539 DHs, 2408 CHCs, along with 13 RGCs.
Geriatric care service provision in 2019-20

|
|
Sr.
No.
|
|
Services
|
|
RGCs
|
|
Distt.Hospitals
|
|
CHCs
|
|
PHCs
|
|
SCs
|
|
Total
|
|
1
|
|
OPD care services
|
|
133545
|
|
7567744
|
|
7016670
|
|
9032922
|
|
2843211
|
|
2,65,94,092
|
|
2
|
|
In-door admissions
|
|
9992
|
|
688966
|
|
269286
|
|
|
|
|
|
9,68,244
|
|
3
|
|
Physiotherapy care
|
|
34637
|
|
754186
|
|
744964
|
|
|
|
|
|
15,33,787
|
|
4
|
|
Lab Tests
|
|
230749
|
|
4215883
|
|
2348922
|
|
2275600
|
|
|
|
90,71,154
|
|
5
|
|
No of Elderly Screened & given Health card
|
|
|
|
599908
|
|
719021
|
|
526754
|
|
273850
|
|
21,19,533
|
|
6
|
|
No of Elderly
Provided Home care services
|
|
|
|
11157
|
|
92657
|
|
68674
|
|
68783
|
|
2,41,271
|
|
7
|
|
No of Elderly provided supportive devices
|
|
|
|
4820
|
|
18006
|
|
7256
|
|
17502
|
|
47,584
|
|
8
|
|
Cases referred
|
|
|
|
32017
|
|
59202
|
|
65057
|
|
64119
|
|
2,20,395
|
|
9
|
|
Cases died in
hospitals
|
|
|
|
17026
|
|
2156
|
|
384
|
|
|
|
19,566
Overall 265 lakhs elderly have been provided OPD, 9.68 lakhs Indoor admissions, 15.33 lakhs Rehabilitation and 90.71 lakhs Leb. services respectively by all the operational District Hospitals and below.
- Training Modules: Three sets of Training modules for Medical Officers, Nurses and Community based workers to deliver Comprehensive Geriatric care has been developed. State level Training of Trainers of Medical Officers for Comprehensive Geriatric Care has been conducted at Chhattisgarh, Meghalaya, Haryana, Punjab Tamil Nadu & Maharashtra generating approx 236 States level Master Trainers and 85 National Master Trainers: 27 for Medical Officer Module, 26 for Staff Nurses Module and 32 for module developed to train Community based workers.
- NPHCE Website: - An interactive and dynamic website cum MIS of the NPHCE program has been initiated through Center for Health Informatics  to provide comprehensive information along with data regarding Geriatric facilities and services available through-out the country. www.nphce.nhp.gov.in
- IEC: Audio/Video spots on different topics of elder care, print material-folder, posters etc. have been developed. The regional language version of IEC material is being developed. https://nphce.nhp.gov.in/video-spot/
3. MINISTRY OF FINANCE:
Atal Pension Yojana : The Atal Pension Yojana  is a Government of India Scheme which was launched on 9th May, 2015, with the objective of creating a universal social security system for all Indians, especially the poor, the under-privileged and the workers in the unorganized sector. The scheme become operational w.e.f. 1st June, 2015, and is being administered by the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority . It is open to all citizens of India between 18-40 years of age having bank account in a bank or post-office. There are five pension plan slabs available under the scheme namely, Rs. 1000, Rs. 2000, Rs. 3000, Rs. 4000, and Rs. 5000 guaranteed by Government of India to the subscriber at the age of 60 years. On death of subscriber, same pension to spouse is guaranteed by Government of India. Further, APY is a pan India scheme open to all citizen of the country and not catering to any specific group.
4. MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS:
Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Department of Urban Development has issued the Model Building Bye Laws, 2016  prescribing standards for creation of elder friendly barrier free environment with reference to buildings, toilets etc. Urban Local Bodies shall implement the Policy by adopting the Model Building Bye Laws, 2016. Further, under Urban Bus Specification-II issued in 2013, the emphasis on buses financed by the Department of Urban Development is on procurement of low floor buses with proper ramps for easy access of the passengers and proper space for wheelchair to be placed in the bus for the benefit of disabled persons and senior citizens. All metro rail projects implemented/under implementation in the country are having disabled and elder friendly infrastructure such as proper ramps/lifts to the stations. There is a provision for reservation of seats in metro rail coaches for differently-abled persons and senior citizens. Further, Housing for All Mission/Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana Guidelines have been circulated to State/UTs to meet the demand of housing in their States/UTs, which interalia incorporates that ‘while making the allotment, families with senior citizens should be given priority for allotment on ground floor or lower floors’.
Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs is implementing the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Urban Livelihoods Mission  with the aim to reduce poverty and vulnerability of urban poor households on sustainable basis. The Mission, inter-alia, aims at providing permanent shelter equipped with essential services to the urban homeless in a phased manner under the component of Shelters for Urban Homeless, irrespective of age.
This information was given by the Minister of State for Social Justice & Empowerment, Sushri Pratima Bhoumik in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.